(CNN) - Liz Cheney, daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, will challenge three-term Republican Sen. Michael Enzi of Wyoming for his seat in next year's mid-term elections, she announced Tuesday in a web video.

"Today I am launching my candidacy for the United States Senate," she said.
Cheney dedicated part of her nearly six-minute long video to criticizing President Barack Obama, accusing him of announcing a war on Americans' freedoms of religion and speech.

Missing, however, was any personal attacks on her GOP opponent, Enzi.

In her announcement she said it was time for a "new generation of leaders to step up." She then made a call to action, saying, "every victorious movement in history has required the full participation of men and women of courage, conviction and principle...join me in this fight."

Cheney, who chairs a nonprofit on national security and education called Keep America Safe, has been rumored this year to be considering a U.S. Senate bid from Wyoming.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, however, says it stands firmly behind Enzi, the GOP incumbent.

Cheney sparked some speculation of a potential Senate bid in March when she cautioned her party against moving too far to the middle as the GOP began major rebranding efforts following last year's presidential loss.

"It is time for Republicans to get over their loss in 2012. We are all that stands between this president's policies and a damaged and diminished America," she wrote. "It is time to get back in the fight."

"And I do mean fight," she continued in the Wall Street Journal op-ed. "Republicans are being counseled to move the party to the left, but in my experience, those who advocate more liberal policies for the GOP are wrongheaded or Democrats, or both."

Wyoming is a reliably red state, with a Republican governor, Republican senators and a Republican for its at large representative. Enzi easily won re-election in 2008 with 76% of the vote.

Former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried the state 69% of the vote in last year's election.

soundoff(355 Responses)

A gay candidate running as a member of the anti-gay party? Kinda like an African American running for a position in the KKK.

July 16, 2013 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

Marie MD

One cheney in politics is enough. Sort of like the shrubs.
Does she also hunt little caged birds like her daddy and has bad aim?

July 16, 2013 06:39 pm at 6:39 pm |

PoHunkus

Wow. Just what the country needs. More political infights.

July 16, 2013 06:40 pm at 6:40 pm |

TK

evil dad evil daughter

July 16, 2013 06:40 pm at 6:40 pm |

AB

I wonder if she hunts as well?

July 16, 2013 06:41 pm at 6:41 pm |

Thom

Thanks Liz for a chance for a democrat to take a seat in Wyoming

July 16, 2013 06:42 pm at 6:42 pm |

Neurotoxin

What planet is she on? Enzi is consistently ranked as one of the most conservative US Senators – on guns, on abortion and gay rights, on health care, on taxes, etc. and she's insinuating he is too liberal and part of the GOP re-branding and moving to the left? It's very heartening to see washed up neocons in detached-from-reality primary challenges because they're being shut further and further out of the political process. And she doesn't stand a chance – her last name alone is enough of a deal-breaker from anyone taking her seriously.

I would think that Liz would be more at home in the Democratic Party. Maybe she will be able to work lesbian/gay issues from within the Republican party and get the agenda changed. Good for her, I say, the Republican Party needs more lesbians running for office under the Republican banner. This is positive news.

July 16, 2013 06:47 pm at 6:47 pm |

jb1963

and another state could turn blue

July 16, 2013 06:48 pm at 6:48 pm |

Seriously

"Our mission is to re-elect our incumbents and build a Republican majority,”

This is why we the citizens are screwed.

July 16, 2013 06:49 pm at 6:49 pm |

Party of hate and division.

No Liz, You and your supporters are WRONG. Keep your coded insults to non-whites, just like your dad did and you'll how divided voters can be.